Specialty Food Magazine

WINTER 2015

Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.

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Page 63 of 139

F
orty years ago, one company dominated the soup market: Campbell
Soup. The brand filled supermarket shelves and was considered
an essential in home pantries nationwide. Today, soups, stews,
and chili have evolved and expanded with a cornucopia of offerings from
dozens of producers that cater to a variety of consumers.
The category has not only matured but also become more sophisticated, breaking
beyond comfort food status. Health-conscious consumers with increasingly refined pal-
ates have inf luenced new bold f lavors like Thai chiles or green curry, and ingredients
such as sustainable wild seafood, kale, and quinoa have become the norm.
A Growing Market
Specialty soup sales increased 9.3 percent between 2011 and 2013, to $558 mil-
lion, according to the Specialty Food Association's 2014 "State of the Specialty Food
Industry" report. Market research firm Euromonitor International predicts the overall
category will grow by 8 percent between 2014 and 2018 to reach $5.4 billion in sales.
New introductions at higher price points with simpler, more natural ingredient lists are
expected to be a factor in this growth.
With the consensus that f lavor and ease of use are priorities among customers,
the category targets two distinct market segments: shoppers who want to participate
in meal preparation and prefer scratch or almost-scratch cooking and those who prefer
quick convenience. In both segments, f lavor, freshness, and nutrition are top priorities.
Fischer & Weiser Mom's Limited
Edition Tomato Basil Soup
WINTER 2015 61